JS Bank and WWF-Pakistan initiate 100,000 mangroves plantation drive

KARACHI: To mitigate
the impact of climate change and increase tree cover, WWF-Pakistan and JS Bank
launched a drive to plant 100,000 mangrove saplings along the coastal belt of
Balochistan.

This campaign aims to
mitigate climate change, regulate water cycles and increase green cover across
the country. During the launch event, saplings were planted at MianiHor which
is a hotspot of mangroves, marine dolphins and various species of coastal
birds.

BasirShamsie, President
& CEO JS Bank stated, “JS Bank has long had a strong focus on
environmental protection and conservation. By partnering with renowned
organizations, we have successfully worked to mitigate decreasing tree cover,
strengthen communities dependent on natural resources and improve the food
security chain.” He went on to add that JS Bank had also implemented the
WWF Green Office protocol at its head office to reduce waste and conserve
resources.

Speaking on the
occasion, Dr. Babar Khan, Regional Head Sindh and Balochistan WWF-Pakistan said
that Pakistan is recognized as having the 7th largest mangrove forest in the
world. These forests are one of the primary features of coastal ecosystems and
are widely spread across the coast of Pakistan.

He said that MianiHor
covers a large area which comprise of dense mangrove forests. This is the only
area in Pakistan where three species of mangroves, such as Avicennia marina,
Rhizophoramucronata and Ceriopstagal occur naturally. These mangroves provide
an ideal habitat for growth of marine plants and animals. He also shared that
mangroves are the first line of defence against cyclones, strong surges,
tsunami and other natural calamities impacting the coastal areas of Pakistan.

This plantation
campaign is a joint initiative of WWF-Pakistan and JS Bank with the aim to
increase mangroves forest cover with active participation of different
stakeholders mainly local communities and passionate individuals.